Mkhedrioni

The Mkhedrioni were a Georgian nationalist paramilitary group which existed from 1989 to 1995. Its name means "Knights" in Georgian, and it claims the legacy of the anti-Ottoman and anti-Persian resistance movements. Its members wore Saint George medallions to signify their Georgian nationalism, and the paramilitary group was formed with the goal of preventing Abkhazia and South Ossetia from seceding from the new Republic of Georgia during the Dissolution of the USSR. Led by Jaba Ioseliani, the Mkhedrioni were rivals with fellow nationalist Zviad Gamsakhurdia's leadership of the country, and the group was banned in February 1991. In December 1991, a coup was staged to overthrow Gamsakhurdia and free imprisoned Mkhedrioni members, and they went on to suppress Gamsakhurdia's supporters in western Georgia, as well as fighting against the secessionists. The Mkhedrioni were banned in 1995 after an assassination attempt against Eduard Shevardnadze.